AllEarth Solar Power Blog

When it comes to going solar, weighing your options can be confusing. For most customers, the decision comes down to buying a system outright, or financing the system through a lease/buyback program or power purchase agreement. Both a purchase and a PPA have their benefits and drawbacks, but figuring out which one is best for you requires some thought.

One of the biggest obstacles preventing people from going solar is the upfront cost, which is often significant and can be prohibitive to those who can't afford it. AllEarth has long recognized the need for alternative solar solutions for these customers: when we first began selling trackers, it was almost exclusively as part of a statewide power purchase agreement (PPA) program, through which we installed over 660 trackers and helped hundreds of Vermonters go solar by following the sun. It was the success of this early program that has inspired us to launch a brand new PPA program for the state of Vermont.

You've decided you want to go solar, and now you have to decide if you should buy your system, or lease it. If you're not familiar with solar, this can be a daunting decision with lots of factors to consider. Here are some of the top things to keep in mind to help you make your choice.

Utility-scale solar is booming, and residential solar is on the rise, but the small-commercial solar market is still largely unrealized, despite wide open potential for growth. It's clear that moving into this space holds a lot of opportunity and potential for business growth, but how do you get started? In this three-post series, we're covering the basics of what you need to know to take the next step. This first post is based on information presented by Chris Fraga, Founder & CEO of SolarSense, in our Small Commercial Solar webinar.